Chairman’s Update – 28th January 2021

Dear All,

A belated Happy New Year and I hope that you are staying safe and keeping well during this difficult period.

I’m very pleased to report that all successful candidates in our Management Committee election at our AGM on 30th December have confirmed their willingness to take up their positions.

Our new line up is:
Sara Eastham
Jules Hales
Kevin Hutchinson
Dave Kenny
Steve Langford
Gemma Perry
Paul Price-Smith
Rupert Taylor
Tim Walker
Kenny Wright

Notwithstanding the extensive knowledge, skills and experience that past and existing members have brought to the committee over the years, we are now stronger in a wider range of expertise.

At our first Management Committee meeting of 2021 we agreed to retain the existing officers in post for the time being as below:

Chairman – Dave Kenny
Vice Chairman – Tim Walker
Secretary – Gemma Perry
Treasurer – Tim Walker

Other members will continue in or take on roles and lead in areas relevant to their expertise as defined by the business throughout the coming year.

We also had two very strong candidates in Traceylee Gaskin and Nick Hodgson who, I’m pleased to say, have agreed to support the Management Committee in various aspects of our work over the coming period. Their experience of human resources and governance, their project management skills, time, ideas and commitment to our endeavours will be invaluable and is most welcome.

Barbara Light offered her candidacy at the AGM but, seeing the strength of the slate on the night and having confidence that a full and capable Management Committee would emerge from the election, contacted us the next day offering to withdraw. As a local councillor with many other commitments Barbara understandably felt best able to support the cause in an advisory capacity and we will, no doubt, draw upon her experience in the months to come.  

We will also be supported by Wendy MacDougall who has offered to support the refurbishment project in keeping the project plan on an even keel. There are, of course, a multitude of members and supporters who have offered their support and expertise via our online survey and we’ll be contacting you all soon to draw you into the work involved in opening Saffron Walden’s First Community Owned Pub .

If you feel able to offer some time and can help in our efforts please do get in touch via our info@strap.org.uk email address or complete the survey here

January has been a busy month, even in the background during lockdown, and with a recruitment campaign now taking shape and quotes and estimates in from contractors there is a real sense of progress. As I write the deep clean of the kitchen equipment is starting and a pre-contract demonstration by the company doing the bar and cellar refit is evidenced by the photograph above.

We look forward, even from this moment, to offering you good quality food and drink at reasonable prices as soon as we can and in what we all hope will be an exciting 2021.

Cheers
Dave